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Window coverings, like the honeycomb Duette blinds by Luxaflex, can help prevent cold air from entering the room once it has hit the glass. luxaflex.com.au

Most of us can’t get through the whole of winter without some sort of heat source. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s the right size for the space.

Josephine says most of us could manage living in smaller houses that would be easier to keep warm.

“Everyone wants open plan now but think back to a lot of older homes that were smaller,” she says. “You’re not trying to heat large, cavernous spaces.”

This Albury house by Kerstin Thompson Architects uses brick to prevent heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer. kerstinthompson.com Picture: Dan Preston

Your friends may not comment on it when they come by, but insulation is the unsung hero for keeping you comfortable all year round. If the budget doesn’t stretch to every part of the house, start by installing or replacing batts in the ceiling, where most hot air escapes. Alternatively, use a reverse brick veneer construction where the face brick on the inside dramatically slows down heat loss.

This house in Camperdown was designed by Andrew Waller for comfort all year round. mrwaller.com Picture: Nicholas Watt

If there’s no budget for a big renovation or you’re renting, there are still options for staying warm without turning on the heater. Open the curtains during the day to let the winter sun in and draw them as soon as the sun goes down. You can create zones which are easier to heat by attaching ready-to-hang curtains between spaces. If you’re in a single-person household, heating the person rather than the room makes the most sense. Add extra layers, buy some quality slippers and avoid sitting down for long periods. If you haven’t already, make the switch to a winter quilt for the bed. Traditional feather down quilts have a life between eight and 15 years. Look for a baffle construction that prevents the filling shifting.

Trees can help moderate temperatures in the house. Instagram: avashirley.architect Picture: James Deck and Michael Nicholson

This small freestanding house was designed by architect Ava Shirley to accommodate the existing angophoras on site. Trees that allow the winter sun through to living areas during the day but protect the house from the worst of the heat in summer are a great way to regulate indoor temperatures, says architect Josephine Hurley.

“Deciduous trees are particularly good for this purpose,” says Josephine. “You get the shade in summer and then the leaves fall and the sun comes through in winter.”

If you don’t already have trees in your garden, it’s worth getting some professional advice before you plant something too big, too intrusive or too close to the house.

Glass windows can be the best or worst enemy for those trying to stay warm in winter. Architect Josephine Hurley says Australians don’t have a great track record with double glazing, which slows down heat transfer by creating a pocket of air between the two panes of glass.

“We don’t use double glazing as much as we should,” she says. “The Europeans use it really well. We also don’t seal our houses well, which lets the heat out.”

Window coverings, like the honeycomb Duette blinds by Luxaflex can help prevent cold air from entering the room once it has hit the glass. Josephine says placing external shutters on the windows can be even more effective in preventing the cold from coming in — and it slows the heat transfer in summer.

A concrete slab like in this North Bondi house renovated by architect Josephine Hurley, will help retain heat in winter, josephinehurley.com Picture: Tom Ferguson

Concrete slabs are not only a practical choice in many cases, but they’re a great way to manage temperatures, says Josephine Hurley, who designed this renovation in North Bondi. Where possible, she likes to go one step further and install underfloor hydronic heating.

“My first experience of hydronic heating was staying with friends and they were walking around barefoot in winter,” she says. ”It’s a beautiful, subtle heat that doesn’t dry out the air.”

josephinehurley.com

The post Building your house to increase warmth will help minimise bills appeared first on realestate.com.au.

NSW Houses Award winner Best House Alteration under 200sqm Bismarck House at Bondi by Andrew Burges Architects. Picture: Peter Bennetts

A tight site that actively engages with its neighbours on the street, a restrained re-working of a 1980s apartment, a sustainable house that champions good design and a breathtaking clifftop garden that looks like it has always been there were the NSW winners in this year’s Houses Awards.

Andrew Burges Architects picked up the award for Best House Alteration under 200sqm for Bismarck House.

Bondi’s award winning Bismarck House. Picture: Peter Bennetts

While many houses on such tight, urban sites seek to turn their backs on the street, this extension to a semi in Bondi celebrates it, with a kitchen window overlooking the laneway.

The jury said it “brings the domestic life of the house into direct relation with the energy and materiality of its laneway context.”

Picture: Peter Bennetts

Picture: Peter Bennetts

Picture: Peter Bennetts

Privacy is created with a series or roof gardens and light courts, treating the house and garden as one whole site.

Sydney’s best apartment

Minimalism is king in the reworking of a 1980s apartment in Cremorne Point by Studio Plus Three that took out the Best Apartment category. White walls and pale oak joinery dominate while a reconfiguration of the kitchen opened it up to harbour views.

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Minimalism wins in Sydney. Picture: Ben Hosking

Picture: Ben Hosking

It is an oasis of calm that allows the owners to impart their own personality with decoration.

The jury said “Cremorne Point Apartment is a work of intelligent, restrained design.

Picture: Ben Hosking

Its simplicity and limited palette of white walls and pale oak timber bring light and life deep into the interior of this moderately sized apartment in a way that might seem inevitable.”

Picture: Ben Hosking

Humility key to sustainable homes

Built with affordability and practicality in mind, it is hard to deny that the winner of this year’s award for Best Sustainability is also beautiful.

NSW Houses Award winner Best Sustainable Waratah House by Anthrosite Architects.

The modest house in Waratah in north western Newcastle was designed by Anthrosite Architects for a small, infill site using low waste materials and construction methods. It’s box-like form was designed to speed up construction and keep labour costs down.

A humble project.

Keeping costs down.

The jury said: “Waratah Secondary House is a small, humble project that delivers something that we need to see more of in our cities.”

Small cars only.

Design we need more of.

Garden that links the ocean to the land

The multi-award winning garden designed by Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture with Bates Landscape adds another award to the shelf, taking out Best Garden this year.

Clifftop Garden in Vaucluse has taken out the top Australian Institute of Landscape Architects NSW Award of Excellence in the Gardens category. Designed by Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture. Picture: Dianna Snape

A detailed and delicate landscape. Picture: Dianna Snape

It is positioned on a cliff edge at Vaucluse. Rugged and beautiful, it seeks to be the link between the natural escarpment and the architecture of the house. Able to be appreciated from a distance, closer inspection reveals a detailed and delicate landscape using sandstone and a mix of native and exotic species to create micro ecologies.

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NSW’s best garden. Picture: Dianna Snape

The jury said: “Delicate and detailed, Vaucluse Garden’s small series of landscape interventions acts to experientially ground the domestic life of the house.”

Garden by the sea. Picture: Dianna Snape

The post Jaw dropping NSW homes claim prestigious Houses Awards appeared first on realestate.com.au.

House prices have jumped more than 400 per cent in many Queensland suburbs in the past 20 years. Image: AAP/Sam Mooy.

HOMEOWNERS who bought a house in the “right” suburb at the turn of the millennium have pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars profit thanks to soaring price growth.

House prices have surged by more than a staggering 400 per cent in at least 20 Brisbane suburbs and four regional areas over the past two decades, with urban renewal and a shift in lifestyle preferences fuelling the surge — possibly the largest growth spurt in history.

Research by Realestate.com.au reveals the biggest price movers in the state over the past 20 years were predominantly inner and middle ring Brisbane suburbs and coastal suburbs, with the Sunshine Coast making up half of the entire top 20.

House prices have surged by more than 400 per cent in some Queensland suburbs since the turn of the millennium. Photo: Brett Wortman.

Windsor, in Brisbane’s inner north, posted the biggest surge in its median house price in the state, increasing from $183,000 in the year 2000 to a whopping $1.08 million in June this year.

Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee said the top-ranked price growth suburbs had a lot in common.

Ms Conisbee said suburbs that had undergone urban renewal or become substantially more desirable because of a shift in buyer preferences had recorded the strongest price growth.

“Twenty years ago, it wasn’t as popular to live so close to the beach,” Ms Conisbee said.

“People also wanted bigger homes on big blocks and wanted to live further out, but there’s been a real shift towards wanting to live close to amenities and to be within walking distance of everything.

“If you have a look at Windsor, that suburb has become overwhelmingly popular.”

REA Group chief economist Nerida Conisbee.

Ms Conisbee said the gentrification of certain suburbs had also created a ripple effect, which had pushed up prices in neighbouring suburbs.

“A lot of old people have moved out of these suburbs in the past 20 years and a lot of younger people have moved in,” she said.

“Because young people tend to renovate and demand better services, that gives a lot of areas renewed energy, which tends to lead to some big changes in prices.”

Ms Conisbee said the traditional blue-chip suburbs had generally performed well also.

“It’s that flight to quality, broadly,” she said.

“Well maintained homes in well located areas have always done well.”

Ms Conisbee said Queenslander homes had seemed to have increased in appeal over the past 20 years, with many located in the older suburbs closer to the CBD and renovating becoming more popular.

Cohen Handler Queensland managing director and buyer’s agent Jordan Navybox said the heavy character overlays in suburbs such as Windsor, Grange and New Farm had pushed up prices because they had a high number of properties that could not be demolished or redeveloped.

“Couple that with the affordability of these inner-city suburbs compared to the equivalent in Sydney and Melbourne and you can see why they’ve become so popular,” Mr Navybox said.

“What we’re always targeting for investors in Brisbane are suburbs where there is high demand, that are as close to the CBD as possible, low supply and close to amenities.”

Jordan Navybox, general manager for Queensland at Cohen Handler. Photo: Lyndon Mechielsen.

Newly engaged couple Nick Ruddell and Kirby Hursthouse bought a house in Windsor earlier this year and are hoping house prices will continue to grow at the same rate for the next 20 years.

The couple are in the middle of a major renovation to transform their house into a five-bedroom, three-bathroom home.

Mr Ruddell said he was confident they would not lose money by investing in the property because of the popularity of Windsor as a suburb.

“For us, we always wanted to be on the northside and in a suburb that had a village kind of feel to it,” Mr Ruddell said.

“We looked in Paddington, but it has really narrow streets and nowhere to park, whereas here, you’ve got nice, wide avenues, city views — like our place has got — and it’s really quiet despite only being three to 4km from the city.”

Engaged couple Nick Ruddell, 34, and Kirby Hursthouse, 32, are renovating their house at 23 Sixth Ave, Windsor. Windsor has recorded the highest house price growth of any Queensland suburb in the past two decades. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Ray White Wilston owner Alistair Macmillan said part of the reason house prices in Windsor were so much lower two decades ago was because one side of the suburb was considered less desirable than the other.

“Traditionally, there has been a large discrepancy in prices between both sides of Lutwyche Road, with prices traditionally better on the western side,” Mr Macmillan said.

“Some parts of the suburb on the eastern side are low lying areas and don’t capitalise on elevation like the other side, but what we have seen is where those prices were dragging for a long time, those areas have been undervalued and in the last 10 to 15 years, people are really starting to appreciate … that it’s still only 3.5km to the city, there have been huge investments into Albion Village and huge investments about to be made into Albion train station. So, it’s no longer seen as the poor cousin to the nice side.”

On the other side of town, the median house price in Cannon Hill has grown 421 per cent over the past two decades, according to Realestate.com.au.

Aaron and Yavanna Grogan are selling their house in the suburb after renovating for the past two years.

Mr Grogan said they bought in Cannon Hill specifically because they were confident they could flip the home for a profit.

“There’s a significant amount of new development in the area, which obviously pushes the prices up, and I actually really like the character of post-war homes and there are still quite a lot within the Cannon Hill area,” Mr Grogan said.

The couple bought a 1960s post-war home and have turned it into a six-bedroom, three-bathroom, contemporary house, which goes to auction today.

“We plan to hopefully sell this one and move on to something else in the area,” Mr Grogan said.

Aaron and Yavanna Grogan and their son Joseph, 6, at the home they are selling in Cannon Hill, which has seen house price growth of 421 per cent in the past 20 years. Picture: Peter Wallis.

Rachel Fechner of Place Estate Agents Bulimba, who is marketing the property at 56 Delsie Street, said Cannon Hill had changed significantly since she lived there 14 years ago.

“When I came from Melbourne in 2006, there was nothing here,” Ms Fechner said.

“A lot of the older generation have since sold and more families have moved in and development in the area has been quite significant.

“That’s definitely helped, and I also think people who previously weren’t able to afford Hawthorne, Bulimba and Norman Park moved here because it was the next suburb out, yet still within 10km of the CBD.”

Ms Fechner said Cannon Hill was now considered a desirable suburb, was tightly-held and no longer affordable.

“People used to say; ‘Oh God, why would you want to live in Cannon Hill?’” she said.

“Now, I think people have come to the realisation that Cannon Hill is a desirable area for families, with lots of facilities.”

TOP BRISBANE SUBURBS FOR HOUSE PRICE GROWTH OVER 20 YEAR
S

Suburb Median house price June 2000 Median house price June 2020 Growth 

Windsor        $183,000                               $1,082,500    492% 

Bulimba        $240,000                               $1,395,000      481% 

Coorparoo      $185,000                               $1,050,000    468% 

Grange          $206,000                              $1,160,000    463% 

Sandgate        $140,000                              $782,500    459% 

Salisbury      $115,000                                $625,000    443%

New Farm      $295,000                               $1,600,000      442% 

Rocklea         $76,500                                $408,000    433% 

Hawthorne      $265,000                               $1,410,000    432% 

Deagon          $91,000                                $480,000     427% 

Kedron        $144,500                              $760,000    426% 

Murarrie        $123,750                                $645,500    422% 

Cannon Hill    $140,122                               $730,000    421%

Morningside    $165,000                               $845,000   412%

Stafford      $124,000                                $633,000    410% 

Nudgee        $126,500                               $645,000    410% 

Hendra         $223,480                                $1,131,000    406% 

Underwood    $114,000                                $575,000    404% 

Chermside      $116,000                                $585,000    404%

Inala        $69,500                                 $350,000    404% 

(Source: Realestate.com.au)

TOP REGIONAL QLD SUBURBS FOR HOUSE PRICE GROWTH OVER 20 YEARS

Suburb Median house price June 2000 Median house price June 2020 Growth

Palm Beach $167,750 $900,000 437%

Warana $140,000 $740,000 429%

Buddina $170,000 $855,000 403%

Miami $165,000 $828,500 402%

Noosa Heads $231,500 $1,142,500 394%

Burleigh Heads $186,000 $910,000 389%

Sunshine Beach $315,000 $1,540,000 389%

Sunrise Beach $183,000 $890,000 386%

Noosaville $205,000 $995,000 385%

Mooloolaba $189,000 $905,000 379%

Minyama $250,000 $1,187,500 375%

East Toowoomba $119,000 $565,000 375%

Tugun $161,400 $760,000 371%

Yaroomba $165,000 $775,000 370%

Broadbeach Waters $260,000 $1,217,500 368%

Wurtulla $140,000 $649,400 364%

Doonan $197,500 $915,000 363%

Worongary $163,500 $752,500 360%

Golden Beach $138,000 $635,000 360%

Jacobs Well $121,500 $556,000 358%

(Source: Realestate.com.au)

The post Made a motza: The suburbs where house prices have jumped an amazing 400pc in 20yrs appeared first on realestate.com.au.

NSW EDUCATION Australian Institute of Architects Awards 2020 Finalist Penrith Public School by PTW Architects in association with McIntosh & Phelps. Picture: Murray Fredericks

Rachel Neeson has fond memories of her school days at Bethlehem College in Ashfield in the 1980s. She loved the staff and the students. But the buildings? Not so much.

So when her architectural firm, the award-winning Neeson Murcutt + Neille were tasked with the job of designing a space fit for 21st century learning on a 19th century site, she was delighted.

“It was great to be involved,” Ms Neeson said.

“The culture of the school hasn’t changed.

“It was a very open and honest school – the kind of place where, if the girls did graffiti, they’d sign their names to it.”

Australian Institute of Architects Awards 2020 Commendation for Educational Architecture, Bethlehem College Ashfield by Neeson Murcutt + Neille. Picture: Brett Boardman

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Bethlehem College received a commendation in the Education category at the recent Australian Institute of Architects Awards. It is one of a growing number of schools responding to overcrowding and changing teaching styles through design to create more efficient and more flexible spaces.

Bethlehem College Ashfield. Picture: Brett Boardman

Homebush West Public School, Bardia Public School and Penrith Public School were also finalists.

The NSW State Government says it has invested $1.3 billion to upgrade and build new state schools in 2020, the largest investment in public education in the history of the state.

The privately run new senior school building at MLC Burwood designed by BVN Architects took out the top award in its category, the William E Kemp Award for Educational Architecture.

MLC Burwood Senior School by BVN, Picture: Ben Guthrie

It was designed over five levels to include 21 new classrooms, eight science labs and a series of breakout rooms.

Architect Phillip Rossington from BVN, whose firm is also behind the award-winning Marrickville Library, said the needs of senior students are unique.

MLC Burwood Senior School by BVN. Picture: Ben Guthrie

“The students said they wanted to be treated like a mature person and they didn’t think that the building allowed for that,” he said. “You have to offer flexibility. In the past education buildings were so rigid in their interpretation of the spaces required and did not allow spaces to be used differently.”

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The senior school building also provides tea rooms designed by be used by students and staff to foster opportunities for casual meetings between the two groups.

“There are also individual meeting rooms and a lot of smaller rooms for the students to go into a separate room for a project,” he said.

The work, estimated to cost about $36 million, is part of a masterplan and designed for change as teaching styles evolve.

Australian Institute of Architects Awards 2020 Finalist Bardia Public School by TKD Architects Picture: Tom Ferguson

“Making the spaces and furnishings flexible ensures that all the spaces are being used so that the occupancy rate rises 90 per cent rather than 70 per cent most of the time,” Mr Rossington said.

Principal of Bethlehem College, Paula Bounds, said prior to the work commencing, the school which caters for 600 high school students was plagued by circulation problems and lacklustre teaching spaces that were stuffy and dark.

”Getting around the school was really challenging — there were fire doors everywhere,” Mrs Bounds said. “The passageways were really narrow and there was no room for lockers. It made it difficult for the students to get where they needed to be on time.”

Australian Institute of Architects Awards 2020 Finalist Homebush West Public School by TKD Architects. Picture: Tom Ferguson

The new three-storey building in the middle of the school site was completed over three years at a cost of $17 million. Through a central ‘spine’ it connects the other buildings on the site to create more classrooms and successful circulation that provides connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.

“I wanted to create a physical heart for a school that already had a big heart,” Ms Neeson said.

The post Top marks for new school designs – how architecture is tackling the education revolution appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The whole 10th floor at the south Harbour Lights tower is for sale with six, one and two bedroom apartments listed with Cairns Property Office.

LIVING like every day is a holiday will soon be possible as a suite of apartments in one of Cairns’ premier complexes enters the market.

The whole 10th floor at the glamorous 12-floor Harbour Lights south tower is up for grabs and there is nothing stopping one buyer from owning it all.

Six apartments, which were formerly managed by hospitality company Accor for holiday letting are now for sale, including five one-bedroom apartments and one dual-key two-bedroom apartment.

Room 1003 on 10th floor at the south Harbour Lights tower. The entire floor is for sale with six, one and two bedroom apartments listed with Cairns Property Office.

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Among the six units listed, there are recently renovated properties on offer and they range between $399,000 and $599,000.

The 10th floor is listed with Cairns Property Office agent Renee Straguszi-Smith who said the south tower had never been marketed for residential living before.

“People have always thought it wasn’t achievable to live at Harbour Lights,” she said.

“Now we have the opportunity to live at the prestigious waterfront address without breaking the bank.”

At the top-end of the price bracket is the dual-key, fully furnished property listed for $599,000. However, Ms Straguszi-Smith said the “jewel in the crown” was room 1003, which had been refurbished to present the opportunities a Harbour Lights apartment offered and was listed for $425,000.

Room 1003 at the Cairns Harbour Lights south tower has been refurbished to show buyers the opportunities on offer with an apartment in the complex.

“It’s a 75sq m one-bedroom apartment that has been stunningly refurbished with a coastal chic vibe by Koru Homewares,” she said.

“So we’re trying to strike that perfect balance between cosiness and sophistication.

“You want to walk through the door and instantly feel like you’re on holidays, but you’re living there.

“All the other units have been fitted out by Indesign International with custom-made carpet and furnishings that reflect the reef and other natural elements of the region.

“They feature full length balconies, water views, loads of natural light and year-round sea breezes.”

The whole 10th floor at the south Harbour Lights tower is for sale with six, one and two bedroom apartments listed with Cairns Property Office.

She said there was no reason one buyer couldn’t snap up the whole floor, and the apartments would likely appeal to a wide range of buyers.

“We’ve had a lot of people inquire about Harbour Lights in the past.

“We’re really appealing to buyers from all walks of life, so people from the Tablelands looking for that convenient city retreat, fly-in fly-out workers or people who work in the mines, retirees or people looking to downsize.

“It will be popular for people living in Melbourne and Sydney seeking that winter holiday home.

“They are very well-priced, easy to maintain and perfectly located in our vibrant marina restaurant precinct which includes award-winning eateries.

“The units make great investments, too. There are plenty of property management options from the onsite hotel operator Accor, to holiday letting or long-term renting.”

There are open home sessions on Saturday and Sunday from 2-2.45pm.

The post Bulk sale: Whole 10th floor at Cairns Harbour Lights for sale appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The residence at 108 Cabana Boulevard occupies an enviable position in Benowa Waters.

For the past 18 years, a spectacular residence in Benowa Waters has provided an idyllic getaway for Gary and Julie Hahn.

The Coogee couple escapes Sydney up to five times a year, taking a month or more to reset and relax in the Sunshine State.

“We’ve always loved the Gold Coast,” said Mr Hahn, whose retirement comes after a career in the automotive industry importing and wholesaling spare parts.

“This was the house we wanted to retire in, but when grandchildren came along in Sydney we kept this as a holiday home.

“We switch into relaxation mode here – you don’t have the traffic and of course the weather is better.”

The Benowa Waters residence has been a home away from home for Gary Hahn and his family. Picture Glenn Hampson

Since March the home, at 108 Cabana Boulevard, has also provided a safe haven in which to bunker down during the COVID health crisis.

“We came here back in March and our children have encouraged us to stay,” Mr Hahn, pictured right, said.

“The property is so large we didn’t feel boxed in at all and there’s so much going on around us with the park and the river.

“It’s been a very peaceful time.”

The house boasts wide water views along the Nerang River.

The balcony offers views of the neighbouring Gold Coast Royal Botanical Gardens.

Occupying a prime 1833 sqm site, the spacious two-level residence overlooks the Nerang River and adjoins the sprawling Gold Coast Royal Botanical Gardens.

Built a year before the Hahns purchased in 2002, rendered arches and stately columns give off a sense of grandeur in the Mediterranean-inspired design.

Secure gates control access to a circular driveway with a pond, fountain centrepiece and a porte cochère.

Arches and columns add to the sense of grandeur.

A grand entrance foyer leads to spacious living and dining areas which in turn open onto multiple covered outdoor terraces with park and water views.

The property boasts 46m of frontage to the main river and a pontoon offers easy access to cruise to Surfers Paradise, Southport or Stradbroke Island by boat.

“The outlook is magnificent,” Mr Hahn said. “We can see a couple of kilometres looking east up the river. We look across at Emerald Lakes and all the beautiful homes built along the water.”

There’s plenty of space for all the family to spread out inside.

Solar panels, water tanks, storage sheds and pool heating have been added over time while a gardener keeps the grounds immaculate in the Hahns’ absence.

“When we’re here we take over and maintain the house ourselves inside and out,” Mr Hahn said.

The couple has fond memories of holidays with family and friends over the years in the four-bedroom house, which has hosted 12 or more people at one time.

“All the Christmases we’ve had here, people would get lost,” said Mr Hahn, who plans to downsize to a holiday unit in Broadbeach.

“You can bet your life I’ll shed a tear when it’s gone, but if another family enjoys it even half as much as we have then I’ll be happy.”

Harcourts Coastal – Broadbeach Shaun Bourke is leading the campaign to auction on August 19 at 11am.

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10 James St, Gilberton. Photos by Jonathan Kissock

A historic Gilberton property has been stunningly restored and now offers a truly sublime family lifestyle on the edge of the city.

Dean bought the home with his wife in 1997 and says, internally, the home bears very little semblance to how it was when they bought it.

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“We’d lived in the area and walked past it almost on a daily basis, and my wife and I used to say ‘someone will make a wonderful house of that place one day’, and little did we know it would be us,” he says.

“When we did buy it, the coach house and stables were in original condition and the horses had just left it – there were no walls at either end and we were looking at a complete restoration.

10 James St, Gilberton. Photos by Jonathan Kissock

“The stable was the first part built in the 1890s and as the cheques came in from the Kalgoorlie mine fields for the owner he added the coach house and then later joined the two buildings together.”

Far from simply taking advice from one person, Dean says the process of conceptualising the restoration was a true team effort.

“One of our friends was an architect who suggested we speak to Richard Falkinger in Melbourne, who was a leading heritage architect mainly working on cathedrals,” Dean says. “He actually brought a busload of final year architecture students across to examine it as a project – firstly establishing the historical aspects of the house and stables and how it was put together and then working out the ideal way to restore it and transform it in a modern sense.

10 James St, Gilberton. Photos by Jonathan Kissock

“We wanted to maximise the amount of light in the house because most old houses suffer from a lack of light, and we wanted it to retain all the nice architectural features but we also wanted it to be suitable for modern living – we didn’t want to have an old relic, we wanted something with a ‘wow’ factor and we were lucky that we were able to do things like heat the floors because there weren’t any floors here when we bought it.

10 James St, Gilberton. Photos by Jonathan Kissock.

“It’s a very easy house to live in and both my wife and I were taken by Italian architecture and how they use space to create an ambience, and that’s very evident here in the high ceilings and large central room. In winter, the walls absorb the heat from the floor after four or five days so you’ve got this enormous heat bank, and during the summer, because the walls are so thick, we very rarely use the airconditioners.”

10 James St, Gilberton. Photos by Jonathan Kissock.

The home has three bedrooms and a study, a central dining and living room, a grand reception area, a formal sitting room, garage parking for four cars and is set on a sprawling 1072sqm of landscaped gardens.

“It’s great for a family, and when we moved in we had a teenage son living with us and because the house has two separate wings he thought that was fantastic because he had his own bathroom, bedroom and study,” Dean says.

“It has a bit of a ‘wow’ factor because people aren’t expecting to see the open space and people don’t realise just how big it is until they get in it, because coach houses are usually small, but this is on two blocks and it’s quite a large house, so it is a bit deceptive from the outside.

10 James St, Gilberton. Photos by Jonathan Kissock

“We’re not a big party couple, but our son was married here and a marquee fitted nicely on the lawn, so that was very handy. We get a buzz out of what we’ve created because most people looked at it in the early days and thought it would be very hard to turn it into a house, so we are very proud.”

Now downsizing, Dean says the couple have loved the home’s convenient location.

“It’s very close to the city and very easy to walk to the Adelaide Oval,” he says. “Let’s hope the next owners have as much fun as we have.”

10 James St, Gilberton. Photos by Jonathan Kissock.

10 James St, Gilberton

Contact agent for price

Agent: Booth & Booth Real Estate, Jamie Brown 0413 000 887.

Land size: 1072sqm.

Expressions of interest: Close Thursday, August 20 at noon

The post There’s a brightness on the edge of town in leafy Gilberton appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Key updates have been released relating to the HomeBuilder scheme.

Australians hoping to get the $25,000 HomeBuilder grant could be waiting years for the cash after guidelines for the scheme were updated this week.

In one of the biggest updates since the program was announced over a month ago, the Victorian State Revenue Office released key updates and a few warnings.

Buyers risk missing the grant if their builder takes on more work than is “reasonable” or they quit contracts signed before June 4 hoping to cash in.

RELATED: Industry reaction and what’s to come on HomeBuilder changes

With the scheme being administered by State Revenue Offices around the nation, it is expected the guidelines could be applied across the country.

They also confirm applicants will be shelling out thousands of dollars in their own money before they receive the grant and indicate off-the-plan unit buyers will wait until their name is on the title to be paid.

As a result, the federal government could still be making HomeBuilder payments to buyers at large-scale developments and apartment towers until October 31, 2022.

Towers in major capitals like Melbourne can take years to build. Picture: David Caird.

The HomeBuilder grants are on offer for those building a new home for under $750,000 or renovating their existing home for between $150,000 and $750,000, subject to income criteria. They are only available for buyers who sign contracts between June 4 and December 31 this year, and construction must start within three months of the contract being signed.

WHEN DO YOU GET THE MONEY?

Different projects will get the government funding at different times.

• HomeBuilder payments will be made directly to an applicant’s nominated bank account at different points, depending on the project:
• New house builders receive the funds after the foundations have been laid and a first progress payment is made to a builder.
• Renovators will get the cash after they submit evidence of payments covering at least $150,000 of the contract price.
• Off-the-plan project buyers will not be paid the $25,000 until their name is registered on the certificate of title, with a deadline of October 31, 2022, now in place.

MORE: HomeBuilder facing weeks long delay as nation awaits digital portal

Why Government’s $25k HomeBuilder scheme could slow home price recovery

HomeBuilder Victoria: Rush on to capitalise on new home grants

WARNING ON DELAYS

You will need to know what a “reasonable” amount of projects for your builder to have is.

The SRO has now defined commencement as “excavation and site preparation works” for any new builds, and works “under the renovation contract” for existing homes.

An earlier promise of extensions if delays were encountered has now been clarified, with the SRO Commissioner “unlikely” to be lenient if the delay is caused by a buyer failing to “undertake appropriate due diligence when entering into a contract”.

Industry groups have been lobbying for further clarity and timeline details since June 4

This includes if the builder contracted to build the home has more work lined up than could be “reasonably expected” to be finished in the three months, and if a developer has set pre-development sales targets that have not been met yet.

They are “likely” to be covered for delays caused by council approvals, obtaining materials or subcontractors, bad weather or industrial disputes.

Natural disasters and serious illness or death in the construction team could also lead to an extension.

The guidelines also appear to slam the door on homebuyers who cancelled contracts signed before June 4 this year in a bid to access the grants, warning such applicants “you may not be eligible to receive the HomeBuilder grant”.

READ MORE ON INDUSTRY REACTION AND WHAT’S TO COME HERE.

The post New HomeBuilder guidelines reveal 2022 timeline, buyer beware appeared first on realestate.com.au.